Starlites GIG     37     Hibernians     63

(6-10, 6-14, 14-23, 11-16)

This top of the standings clash resulted in nearly a one-sided match, as Starlites lost their mentor, Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, very early on in the match, with a foot injury, and they lost all their cohesion. The champions had already started well enough, and, sensing blood, they took full advantage of their opponents' inconsistency. They were ably led by a non-stop Sam Brincat, who troubled the opposing defence no end, finishing up, by far, the game's top scorer. Hibs won all four sessions of play, to pull away steadily, and make the issue safe well before the end of the encounter. Starlites still have their Welshwoman, Hayley Acreman, unable to play, and recovered Adriana Lupo. The Paolites had the returning skipper, Elena Cassar, back in their ranks, but Britney Agius kept her place, in lieu of Kaya Calleja.

Hibs went ahead, in the early stages, with a Brincat triple and Amelia Simmons points, also with a trey. Arguello pulled up injured, in attack, and left the court, making Starlites' job more difficult. They did reduce their deficit, till the end of the session, but it was a long road ahead for them, given Brincat's fine form, for the champions. In the next period Joey Grima netted a triple for Starlites, but Hibs were not to be denied, with a 9-0 run, mostly from Hannah Al Tumi, consistent in the paint. She was followed by a second Brincat trey, and at the interval Hibs had gone on to a 24-12 advantage, with Starlites still on a low score.

After the break Starlites' points began to pick up, scoring at odd intervals, but Hibs were still dominant, as Brincat kept on with her treys, adding two more, besides more points. There were also Simmons and Sophie Abela to bolster their scoring further, leaving their adversaries behind, on a 47-26 score. The last quarter began on a slower pace, with Hibs complacent, and unable to add on to their score, till halfway through the session. Starlites managed a trio of hoops, but the Paolites picked up again, in the remaining time, even if their bench players began to make their way on court. Lupo and Grima netted Starlites' points, with Cassar bagging a Hibs triple. Abela increased her personal tally, and also managed a late trey, to close down the match, as Hibs took sole leadership of the standings.

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 2, K. Galea 2, M. Riolo 6, S. Farrugia 2, M. Bonett 2, F. Fabok 2, C. Curmi 1, J. Grima 8, P. Arguello, M. Cutajar 2, S. Davies, A. Lupo 5

Hibs: E. Micallef, E. Cassar 3, B. Agius 2, S. Brincat 21, I. Agius, J. Abela, S. Abela 11, A. Simmons 13, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi 9, K. Caruana 2, L. Duncan 2

Referees: T. Mantere, M. Hraisha, V. Nikoli